Undergarment.



H. A. CARTER.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-28,1916.

' Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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Inventor: Horace d. Garter,

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H. A. CARTER.

UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION mu) mus. ms. 1 1 99, 347 Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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HORACE A. CARTER, 0F NEEDHAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNDERGARMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed January 28, 1916. Serial No. 74,755.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE A. CAR'rnR, a citizen of the United States,and a resldent of Needham Heights, in the county of Norfolk andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovementinUndergarments, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to undergarments, which may be either of theunion undergarment type or may be of the nether garment type. Thegarment is particularly intended for use by males.

In order that the principle of the invention'may be readily understood,I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanyingdrawings, where1n Figure 1 is a front elevation of a unlon unclergarmentembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; Fig. 3 1s aplan view of certain gussets whlch may be and are preferably used in theformat1on of the garment; Fig. 4 is a view s1m1lar to F 1g. 3 butrepresenting said gussets as inserted in the garment; Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of the garment upon the wearer; and Fig. 6 is a view,partially in front elevatlon and partially in vertical section,andrepresenting the front of the garment, vlewed from the insidethereof.

While I have selected for the purpose 0 illustration a unionundergarment, it is to be understood that the invention may be appliedto nether garments. While preferably the garment is a knitted one,obviously my invention may, in its broad aspect, be applied to agarmentof woven or other suitable material. l/Vhile the undergarment maybe fashioned in any suitable manner, I preferably, and particularly inthe case of a' union undergarment, form the same with abody portion 1,arms 2, 2, integral there with, and leg portions 3, 3 also integraltherewith. I have represented the garment as having an opening 4 in thefront, extending from the neck opening 5 substantially to the crotchportion of the garment. My

I invention may be applied to a union undergarment of the drop seat, theclosed crotch, or other type.

In the ensuing description the terms right and left will be used indescribing the portions of the garment with reference to thewearer, andnot the observer.

In order to provide the proper fullness across the hips or thighs, andin order also to furnish a suitable opening at the back, if the garmentbe of the type herein illustrated, I preferably provide two gussetportions, respectively indicated at 6, 7 in Figs. 3 and 4c, the gusset 6being herein designated as the lefthand gusset because in practice thegreater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the left-hand leg of thegarment, and the gusset 7 being termed the righthand gusset inasmuch asthe greater portion of its perimeter is seamed to the right-hand leg ofthe garment. If the garment be a knitted one, which is in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of my invention, the knitted wales extendlongitudinally of the body, arms and legs, and also extendlongitudinally of the gussets 6, 7.

VThe lateral edges 8, 9, 10, 11 of the gussets are preferably out uponcurved lines, which converge toward each other. Each gusset has a squareupper end 12, 13, which in the garment are lapped past each other andsecured to the body of the garment at the rear, as indicated in Fig. 2.The edge 9 of the gusset 6 and the edge 10 of the gusset 7 constitutethe free edges of the garment at the rear. The edge 8 of the gusset 6and the edge 11 of the gusset 7, which as previously described arepreferably out upon curved lines, are seamed to straight edges of thebody portion of the garment, thus giving increased width across the hipsand thighs of the wearer.

The garment embodying my invention is preferably, though notnecessarily, of the closed crotch type, and inthe formation of thegussets 6, 7, and in the application thereof to the garment I preferablyprovide each gusset 6, 7 with two gores, numbered re-.

spectively 14:, 15, 16 and 17. The gore 14 of the left-hand gusset 6constitutes a thighwidening gore, and is attached along both its edgesto the inside seam of the left leg, thus enlarging the diameter of theupper portion of that leg, and the gore 15 of the said left gussetconstitutes in effect a suspensory-forming gore, to cooperate withcertain parts hereinafter specified to provide a suspensory pocket. Thesaid gore 15 is I carried over andattached to the inside seam of theright leg just below or at the crotch, as indicated most clearly inFigs. 1, 4 and 5. As indicated most clearly in Fig. 3, the said gore 6is provided with a widened extremity 18 which is seamed along its extentas described to the inside seam of the right leg.

The gore 17 ofthe right gusset 7 is seamed along both its edges to theinside seamof! the right leg, thus enlarging the diameter of the upperportion of the leg, and the gore 16 constitutes a suspensory-forminggore and is carried across and seamed to the inside seam of the left legat the upper portion thereof just below or at the-crotch. It will beobserved that the-gores'15, 16'of the gussets 6 and 7 differ slightly inshape, thegore 15 being broadened at its lower edge. If desired,however, and .within the scope of my invention, the two 'gores may beduplicates of each other.

The gores 15and 16are,in the complete garment, superimposed the one uponthe other. Viewing Figs. land -5,-it-willbe observed that both of I'thesuspensory-forming gorse-15, 16 are positioned wholly atone and thesame-side of theaxial line of th'e-crotch, whichmay-be defined asthemedian lineof the garment orthe front opening 4:. The upper ends ofthe said gores 15,16 are superposed Y asdescribed, and are secured tothe upper edges of the legs whollyat one side of the said axial crotchline.

An important purpose. of carrying the gores 15, 16 pasteach other andsecuring them. to the upper portions :of the inside seams of theopposite legs is to provide a suspensory orsupport for-the organs.

WVhile my invention pertains and relates particularly to and is embodiedand'comprehended in a garment'having the characteristics hereinbeforedescribed, I am" not limited thereto inasmuch as'for certain purposesthe pocket-forming or body-adjusting strip or strips hereinafterreferred to may be employed upon other types of undergarments. The saidstrip or strips,however, peculiarly cooperate with a garment of the'type described, that is, one wherein "I have provided two gussets, eachhaving gores such as 15 and 16, since the said'strip or strips whenapplied to the garment draw or'support'the same, and particularly thegussets 15, 16 into a pocket inclosing the organs.

My invention also comprehends'the employment of a suitable.pocket-forming or body-adjusting strip or tape, secured .tothe crotchportion of the garment-at the front thereof and preferably, though notnecessarily to the 'outside,and extending -generally transversely of thegarment. I have herein represented the-said strip -or tape in Figs. 1, 2and 5 at 19, it being-seamed or otherwise suitably secured as indicatedat 20 transverselyacrossthe said gores 15, 16,:and-

preferably to the leg portions of the garment at the right and left ofsaid .gores. \Vhile I have shown the said strip as attached along acurved line, it is apparent that it may be-attached in any suitablemanner and along any suitable extent thereof. The strip may be of anysuitable material, and is here shown as a Woven band or tape having freeends. WVithin the scope and purpose of my invention, I may employ a. K

may be increased or shortened .in length This may be accomplished byproviding bucklesor other takeup means, and if-desired,butnot-preferably,thestrip or tape may be of .or may contain elasticmaterial.

In=the disclosed embodiment of the inven tion, however, I provide acooperating strip or strips, secured to the'garment above thecrotch-portion thereof, and having depending portions for attachment tothe 7 pocket forming strip. 19.

While the cooperating strip-orstrips may be secured to any suitableportion ofthe garment and' may'be of any suitable character, I haveherein represented two strips 21, 22 respectively attached to the rearof the garment at 23, 24, at substantially the upper end of the gussets'6, 7.

The cooperating stripor strips, herein represented "as-the strips21,-22, may, as previously stated, be secured to any suitable part ofthe garment, but by securing them tothe-b-ack or sidesof the-garment andpro-. viding depending portions, the organ-supporting pocket which isprovided by the strip Or "tape 19 and the gores '15, 16 is preservedwhenthewearer is in aseated-pos'ition -with his body relaxed. If thecooperating tape or tapes were'secured to the front of'thegarment-'there migh t be a tendency of the strip 19, when the wearer isseated and' his bodyisrelaxed, to so position itself as'partially todestroy the effectiveness of-the pocket. It is,*however, to beunderstood that the cooperating strips may be secured to any suitableportion of the garment and within the broader aspect ofmy invention Imay, in certain cases, dispense with the cooperating strip or strips andotherwise attach =the strip 19', as for "example by ;making the same 'ofsufficient.

length to permitit to "be'passed about the waist of the wearer andsuitably tied together at its ends.

The transversely positioned strip or tape 19, when drawn upward, asindicated most clearly in Fig. 5,so draws uponthe crotch portion of thegarment as to inclose the organs in apocket and thus in effect to form asuspensoryj Inathis, function the gores 15, 16 effectively J cooperate,and because of -the double thickness of ithe material additionalprotection is provided and the, pocket is 1 nectar reinforced.Furthermore, the strip or tape 19 constitutes a body adjustment. That isto say, if the body portion ofthe garmentbe foundnot to fit the wearerperfectly but to besomewhat too long,-it maybe drawn up to fit thewearer snugly by drawing upon the-ends of-the tape 19, and conversely,'if the body be somewhat too short, then by looseningthe strip or tape19, it may be somewhat lengthened.

Within the scope of my invention the strip or tape, or other supportingmeans, may be secured either to the inside or to the outside of thegarment. While preferably I secure it to the outside of the garment, asrepresented in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, I have in Fig. 6 represented it assecured to the inside thereof. In such form or embodiment of myinvention I have represented a short band 25, of general rectangularform but having a cut-out portion 26. The said piece 25 is secured atits lower edge-27 only to the garment, transversely thereof, so as toprovide a pocket between itself and the gores 15, 16. Either integralwith the piece 25 or attached thereto, I provide strip portions 28, 29,corresponding generally to the strip 19. The freeends of the stripportions 28, 29, are adapted to be held in place in any suitable manner,as for example by attaching them to the free ends of strips 30, 31,which preferably are attached to theback of the garment in a mannersimilar to that shown in Fig. 2. They may, however, be attached in anysuitable manner.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I "have providedan undergarment having an organs-supporting pocket, the garment becauseof the provision of the gussets 6, 7, with their gores 15, 16, beingpeculiarly adapted for the formation of such a pocket, and the elementscooperating with said gussets in the formation of the pocket being ofsuch simple construction that the garment may be readily adjusted.Furthermore, the means cooperating with the gussets constitutes a bodyadjustment.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims:

1. An undergarment for males having lower trunk, crotch and leg portionsand a pocket-forming strip or tape secured to the crotch portion at thefront of and extending transversely of the garment, and havingopposed-securing portions by which the secured portion of the strip ortape and the crotch portion may be lifted into pocket form.

2. An undergarment for males having lower trunk, crotch and leg portionsand an organs-pocket-forming strip or tape secured to the crotch portionbelow the organs at the front of and'extending transversely of thegarment and having opposed-securing portions by which the securedportion of the strip or tape and the crotch portion may be lifted intopocket form.

3. An undergarment for males having a "crotch portion and having lowertrunk and leg portions, and one or more gusset p'ortion's at the frontof the arment at the crotch thereof, and a pocket-forming strip or tapesecured to a gusset portion and to the adjacent leg portions at thefront of and extending transversely of the garment and havingopposed-securing portions, whereby the material of the gusset or gussetsmay be drawn up into a pocket inclosing the organs.

4. An undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having lowertrunk and leg portions, each leg at its upper portion having a gussetextending therefrom to the opposite leg'portion, thereby to form adouble thickness of material at the crotch, and a pocket-forming stripor tape secured to one of said gusset portions at the front of andextending transversely of the garment and having opposed-securingportions, whereby the materialof the gusset or gussets may be drawn upinto a pocket inclosing the organs.

5. An undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having lowertrunk and leg portions, each leg at its upper portion having a gussetextending therefrom to the opposite leg portions, thereby to form adouble thickness of material at the crotch, the upper portions of saidgussets being superimposed and the upper ends of said gussets being bothat one and the same side of the axial line of the garment, wherebypocket-forming material is provided at one side of the axial line of thegarment, and a pocket-forming strip or tape secured to a gusset portionand to the adjacent leg portions at the front of and extendingtransversely of the garment and having opposedsecuring portions, wherebythe material of the gusset or gussets may be drawn up into a pocketinclosing the organs.

6. A union undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having apocketforming strip or tape secured to the crotch portion at the frontof and extending transversely of the garment, and having opposedsecuringportions by which the secured portion of the strip or tape and thecrotch portion may be lifted into pocket form.

7. A union undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having apocketportion of the strip or tape and the crotch portion may be liftedinto pocket form, and a cooperating strip or strips secured to thegarment above the crotch portion thereof and having depending portionsfor attachment to the said terminal-securing portions.

8. A union undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having apocketforming strip or tape secured to the crotch portion at the frontof and extending transversely of the garment, and havingterminal-securing portions by whichthe secured portion of the strip ortape and the crotch portion may be lifted into pocket form, and acooperating strip or strips secured to the rear of the garment andhaving depending portions for attachment to the said terminal-securingportions, the position of the cooperating strip or strips being suchthat when said portions areattached and the user is seated, the bagformation is wholly retained.

9. A union undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having apocketforming strip or tape secured to the crotch portion at the frontof and extending transversely of the garment, and havingterminalsecuring portions by which the secured portion of the strip ortape and the crotch por tion may be lifted into pocketform, and acooperating strip or strips secured to the rear of the garment atsubstantially the small of the back and having depending portions forattachment to the said terminalsecuring portions, the position of thecoopcrating strip or strips being such that when said depending portionsare attached and the user is seated, the pocket formation is whollyretained.

10. An undergarment for males having a crotch portion and having a lowertrunk portion 1 and leg portions 3-3, eachleg atv its upper portionhaving a gusset .6, 7 extending therefrom to the opposite leg portion,thus forming a double thickness of material at the crotch, the upperport-ions 15, 16 of said gussets being superimposed,1a pocket formingstrip or tape 19 secured to a gusset portion and to the adjacent legportions at the front of and extending transversely of the garment andhaving opposed securing portions and strips 21, 22 secured to thegarment and adapted to be secured to HORACE A. CARTER.

Witnesses ROBERT ScHuLzE, PRESTON MITCHELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

